National Wildlife Refuge · North Dakota · FWS Region 6

Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge lies in Burke County, North Dakota, with about 15,009 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 14,012 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
14Khuntable acres
15KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Des Lacs NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Des Lacs NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

The Refuge is open to deer hunting, moose and elk hunting, turkey hunting, and upland game hunting. Hunting is permitted in designated areas during designated hunting seasons with the proper licenses.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow North Dakota regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 14,012 (98%)Closed: 216 (2%)14Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations14,012 ac 98%
  • Closed216 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
Hunting Unit
13,151 ac
Bow Unit
585 ac
Bow/Upland Unit
275 ac
Closed Unit
216 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Bow Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 585 —
Bow/Upland Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 275 —
Hunting Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 13,151 —
Closed Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 216 —

Des Lacs NWR by the numbers

With about 14,012 huntable acres, Des Lacs NWR ranks #14 of 28 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in North Dakota and #146 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 98% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunting Unit (13,151 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Bow/Upland Unit, covers 275 acres.

1 unit totaling 216 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 15,009 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 7,048 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Larson O'Rourke WPA (254 acres, 16 miles SW).

When to hunt Des Lacs NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. North Dakota sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid North Dakota hunting license and any required tags or stamps — North Dakota Game and Fish Department
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Des Lacs NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Des Lacs NWR.

How to get to Des Lacs NWR

Navigate

Destination: Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
48.97205, -102.16211
DMS
48°58′19.4″N 102°09′43.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Kenmare, ND21 mi N of town
  • Crosby, ND51 mi E of town
  • Minot, ND65 mi NW of town
  • Bottineau, ND78 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • MOT Minot Intl64 mi
  • BIS Bismarck Municipal166 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Des Lacs NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM8:34 PM13h 30m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM8:04 PM12h 41m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:16 AM7:46 AM7:30 PM11h 44m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:37 AM8:07 AM7:01 PM10h 54m
Sun, Nov 1, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM5:30 PM9h 56m
Sun, Nov 15, 20267:27 AM7:57 AM5:09 PM9h 13m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:50 AM8:20 AM4:55 PM8h 35m
Tue, Dec 15, 20268:05 AM8:35 AM4:51 PM8h 16m
Fri, Jan 1, 20278:12 AM8:42 AM5:00 PM8h 18m
Fri, Jan 15, 20278:07 AM8:37 AM5:17 PM8h 39m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:50 AM8:20 AM5:43 PM9h 23m

Computed for 48.972, -102.162 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Des Lacs NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)

What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…

Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather

The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…

Des Lacs NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Des Lacs NWR?

Yes. Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (14,012 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, upland birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Des Lacs NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Des Lacs NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Des Lacs NWR located?

Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge is in Burke County, North Dakota, about 21 miles N of Kenmare, ND (straight-line). GPS: 48.97205, -102.16211.

What are legal shooting hours at Des Lacs NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Lostwood WMD

Burke County, ND · 25 mi SW

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11K huntable acres

Lostwood NWR

Burke County, ND · 29 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇

26.2K huntable acres

Upper Souris NWR

Renville County, ND · 39 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🎣

32K huntable acres

Crosby WMD

Divide County, ND · 53 mi W

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

18.8K huntable acres

Shell Lake NWR

Mountrail County, ND · 54 mi S

1 closed
No hunting listed

J. Clark Salyer WMD

McHenry County, ND · 70 mi E

1 open
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

34K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in North Dakota →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.